Published: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 5:26 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 5:26 p.m.

Third Street near Greenfield Lake could be closed for months beginning in the fall of 2014, according to an N.C. Department of Transportation release.

A $2.4 million project to replace a culvert that passes under Third Street and South Front Street from the lake would cause Third Street to be shut down for six to nine months.

Wilmington citizens will have a chance to voice their opinions about the project and speak with DOT officials during an informational workshop from 5-7 p.m. April 18 at Wilmington Council Chambers, Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St.

“It’s still in the early stages of planning. That’s why we’re having this public workshop next week to get the public’s input with whether they can live with that portion of Third Street being closed, because that would really help us complete the project much faster,” said Amanda Glynn, DOT’s division bridge program manager, who will oversee the project.

Port and other traffic would continue to flow along Front Street and Carolina Beach Road.

The official detour route for Third Street during the project will likely be Shipyard to 16th and 17th streets and then to Dawson and Wooster streets.

Initially constructed in 1940 and widened in 1955, the culvert cracked and buckled when Hurricane Floyd dumped 20 inches of rain on the region in two days in September 1999.

The intersection of Third Street, Front Street and Carolina Beach Road had to be closed for several days, and that caused traffic on 16th and 17th streets to increase 150 percent.

In the months following the storm, the DOT thought it might have to replace the culvert. Instead, it spent $85,000 to repair it, using steel plates and ties to reinforce the structure.

More repairs to the culvert and the road have been necessary since then, and the DOT has picked the time it would like to do the work, using bridge maintenance and small construction funding to pay for the project.

“We’ve been talking about it for a while now, and we’re finally able to put those plans into action,” Glynn said.

During the construction, the DOT will also upgrade the bicycle and pedestrian facilities in the area, extending a bicycle lane across the culvert on Front Street, as well as adding a sidewalk there.

The Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Advisory Committee unanimously supported the project at its February meeting.

<p>Third Street near <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic64"><b>Greenfield Lake</b></a> could be closed for months beginning in the fall of 2014, according to an N.C. Department of Transportation release.</p><p>A $2.4 million project to replace a culvert that passes under Third Street and South Front Street from the lake would cause Third Street to be shut down for six to nine months.</p><p>Wilmington citizens will have a chance to voice their opinions about the project and speak with DOT officials during an informational workshop from 5-7 p.m. April 18 at Wilmington Council Chambers, <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9941"><b>Thalian Hall</b></a>, 310 Chestnut St.</p><p>“It's still in the early stages of planning. That's why we're having this public workshop next week to get the public's input with whether they can live with that portion of Third Street being closed, because that would really help us complete the project much faster,” said Amanda Glynn, DOT's division bridge program manager, who will oversee the project.</p><p>Port and other traffic would continue to flow along Front Street and Carolina Beach Road.</p><p>The official detour route for Third Street during the project will likely be Shipyard to 16th and 17th streets and then to Dawson and Wooster streets.</p><p>Initially constructed in 1940 and widened in 1955, the culvert cracked and buckled when <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/hurricane"><b>Hurricane</b></a> Floyd dumped 20 inches of rain on the region in two days in September 1999.</p><p>The intersection of Third Street, Front Street and Carolina Beach Road had to be closed for several days, and that caused traffic on 16th and 17th streets to increase 150 percent.</p><p>In the months following the storm, the DOT thought it might have to replace the culvert. Instead, it spent $85,000 to repair it, using steel plates and ties to reinforce the structure.</p><p>More repairs to the culvert and the road have been necessary since then, and the DOT has picked the time it would like to do the work, using bridge maintenance and small construction funding to pay for the project.</p><p>“We've been talking about it for a while now, and we're finally able to put those plans into action,” Glynn said.</p><p>During the construction, the DOT will also upgrade the bicycle and pedestrian facilities in the area, extending a bicycle lane across the culvert on Front Street, as well as adding a sidewalk there.</p><p>The Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization's Transportation Advisory Committee unanimously supported the project at its February meeting.</p><p>Adam Wagner: 343-2096</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @adamwagner1990</p>